Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting in Al-Khobar today. The King is currently on a tour of the Eastern Province.

King Abdullah opened the meeting by briefing the Cabinet on his recent contacts and meetings with world leaders and envoys, in particular talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Bahrain’s King Hamad Al-Khalifa. King Abdullah said that his talks with both leaders focused on bilateral issues as well as the Palestinian situation.

In a statement, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said that the Cabinet condemned Israel’s shelling of the Beit-Lahia beach in Gaza, in which innocent Palestinians were killed or injured. Such actions undermine the peace process and are opposed to basic human values, the Cabinet said.

Turning to domestic issues, the Cabinet stressed the importance of the industrial, educational and construction projects that are being launched throughout the Kingdom, as well as the demonstrations of national unity during King Abdullah’s provincial visits. The combination of adherence to Islam, responsible leadership, and public and private initiatives is a model for social and economic development, the Cabinet said.

The Cabinet issued a number of decisions. It approved the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development for FY 1424-1425H (2003-2004). It also ratified a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) law aimed at combating market flooding that was approved at the December 2003 GCC summit in Kuwait. In addition, Dr Mohammed bin Salah Al-Mutabbaqani was appointed representative of the private health sector on the Health Services Council.